Biology Reference
In-Depth Information
Chapter 5
Human Dimension of the Soundscape:
From Individuals to Society
The sonic ambience associated with visual aesthetics is important to human well-
being, and the search for a quiet area becomes a priority strategy in human societies
surrounded by growing anthropogenic noise. The study of the soundscape from the
human perspective requires a psychological approach that allows a synthesis
between visual and acoustic stimuli. A semantic approach able to describe the
feeling that sounds produce in individuals allows categorization of the cultural and
social effects of a subjective sonic environment.
The quality of the sonic ambience increases the acoustic capacity in human
hearing and alters the relationship between acoustic cues and their cultural and
social interpretation.
Noise sensitivity is defined as an attitude to rating sound according to an
individual-based criterion; it represents a major antecedent of individual noise
annoyance, and the results are independent of the predisposition to perceive a
sound event more intensely or the capacity to better discriminate sounds.
Direct and indirect effects of noise exposure on human health produce hearing
impairment, reduction of speech communication, cardiovascular risk, sleep distur-
bance, psychological and performance reduction effects, and a subjective feeling of
annoyance. Exposure to outdoor noise represents the highest risk to human health.
Insomnia is one of the most common effects, but in the long term ischemic heart
disease and increase in blood pressure have to be considered equally probable.
The soundscape of urban spaces is a complex system in which physical, psycho-
logical, and social components concur to human sonic assessment. A sonic envi-
ronment of high quality in urban areas means not only a low level of sonic energy
but also the presence of natural elements such as green spaces and a tangible
biodiversity
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